Tightening device for harness.



No. 722,077. PATENTBD MAR. 3, 1903. 0. BERANEK.

TIGHTENIN G DEVICE FOR HARNESS.

H0 MODEL.

TH: mams arms co. rnorovuma. WASHINGTONl u c.

` gle-iron racks b, above described.

Nrrn STATES ATENL' rrrcs.

CARL BERANEK, OF JAROSLAU, AUSTRIA-HUNGARY.

TIGHTENING DEVICE FOR HARNESS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N o. 722,077, dated March3, 1903.

Application filed December 30, 1901. Serial No. 87,816. (No model.)

To au whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, CARL BERANEK, a subject of the Emperor ofAustria-Hungary, residing at Jaroslau, in the Province of Galicia, inthe Empire of Austria-Hungary, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Tightening Devices for Saddles; and I do hereby declarethe following to be a full, clear, and exact description of theinvention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which itappertains to make and use the same, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, and to letters of reference marked thereon, whichform a part of this specification.

This invention relates to riding-saddles,and has for its object toprovide an improved device for tightening and loosening the saddlegirthsof riding-saddles and to reduce to a minimum the power and timeordinarily required for adjusting the same. The free end of thesaddle-girth is xed to a clasp provided with two laterallydisposed pinsor studs adapted to engage in two angle-iron racks secured to thesaddle, the arrangement being such as to cause the said clasp to form atightening-lever which when in its upright position tightens the saddlegirth and releases said girth when turned downward. By placing the studsof the lever in higher or lower teeth of the side racks it will be easyto lengthen or shorten the effective length of the girth, as may berequired.

Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings represent a saddle providedwith the tightening device, the girth being shown in its loosened andtightened position, respectively. Fig. 3 is the front view; Fig. 4, theside view ofthe tightening-clasp. Fig. 5 represents an angle-iron rackin side elevation.

According to this invention to the saddleflap a are affixed twoangle-iron racks formed with a number of superposed notches. The end ofthe saddle-girth d is provided with a clasp or tightening-lever e,having at its lower end two exchangeable pivot pins or studs f, adaptedto engage in the notches c of the an- The clasp e is curved tocorrespond to the form of the saddle-flaps, Fig. 4, so that when saidlever is in its upright position the pull of the girth will tendV tokeep it closely pressed to the side of the saddle. This lever isadvantageously provided with a handle g to facilitate the manipulationof the same. The other end of the saddle-girth is attached to theopposite flap of the'saddle and may, if desired, be furnished with abuckle device for adjusting its eiective length.

For adjusting the saddle .upon the animal the clasp with its handledownward is by means of its pins introduced in the lower notches c ot'the angle-iron racks. The saddle-girth is then roughly adjusted from theright-hand side of the saddle by means of the buckle. Upon raising thehandle of the clasp the saddle-girth will be effectively tightened. Itduring a long ride the girth has slackened and it is found necessary totighten it again, this may readily be effected in the saddle withoutdismounting by turning down the clasp e and placing its pins or studs inthe next higher notches c of the racks and then again raising the clasp.

The clasp'when in its raised position will constantly remain in itstightenedposition owing to the fact that the pull of the girth isdirected rearward of the pins or studs.

In order to prevent the tightening device being rendered useless by theunexpected breaking of one of the pins or studsf, which are madeexchangeable, the clasp is provided with other projecting pins 7L at asuitable distance above the pins or studsf, irst described, and arrangedto enter the notches c in the racks without, however, taking a bearingtherein. Thus if one of the first set of pins f should accidentallybreak the lever will slightly descend at that side till the pin h aboveis firmly seated in its notch, and it is therefore not necessary for therider to dismount at once to attend to the exchange of the broken studby a new one, but he can postpone this exchange for a subsequent moresuitable occasion.

I claim l. The combination with a saddle and two parallel bars securedvertically to Jone of its liaps and having a plurality of notch-bearingsin their outer face, the space between the bars somewhat greater thanthe width of a saddlegirth; of a lever provided with fulcrum-studs IOOadapted to be placed in the aforesaid bearings, and a saddle-girthsecured to the outer face of said lever intermediate its ends, for thepurpose set forth.

2. The combination with a saddle and two parallel bars securedvertically to one of its iaps and having a plurality of notch-bearin gsin their outer face, the space between the bars somewhat greater thanthe width of a saddlegirth; of a lever comprising a body portionconsisting of a substantially rectangular plate provided on its upperedge with a handle extension and with fulcrum-studs at its oppositelower corners, adapted to be placed in the aforesaid bearings, and asaddle-girth secured to the outer face of said body portion intermediateits upper and lower edges, for the purpose set forth.

3. The combination with a saddle and two parallel arcuate bars securedvertically to one of its iiaps and provided with a plurality ofnotch-bearings in their outer face, the space between the bars somewhatgreater than the Width of a saddle-girth; of a lever comprising a bodyportion consisting of a substantially rectangular plate arc-shaped inlongitudinal section and of a width substantially equal to that of thesaddle-girth, said body portion provided with a fulcrum-stud at itsopposite lower corners adapted to be placed in the aforesaidnotch-bearings, and a saddle-girth secured to the outer face of the bodyportion of the lever intermediate its upper and lower edges, for thepurpose set forth.

4. The combination with a saddle and two parallel vertical bars securedto one of its aps and provided with notch-bearings in their outer face;of a lever having fulcrumstuds fitting said bearings, and a girthsecured to the lever intermediate its fulcrumstuds and opposite end, andmeans locking the lever to the aforesaid bars should one or bothfulcrum-studs break, for the purpose set forth.

5. The combination with a saddle and two parallel bars securedvertically to one of its flaps and having a plurality of notch-bearingsin their outer face; of a lever provided with primary fulcrumstudsfitting the aforesaid bearings, and with safety fulcrum-studs at adistance from said primary fulcrum-studs slightly greater than thatbetween two adjacentbearings, and a saddle-girth secured to the outerface of the lever intermediate its fulcrum and opposite end, for thepurpose set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I have signed myname in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

CARL BERANEK.

Witnesses:

JOSEF RBRESCH, ALvEsTo S. HoeUE.

